Store-service apparatus.



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EMANUEL C. GIPE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ROWE RING-POINT COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Application led October 2, 1914. Serial No. 864,630.

To all whom it may concern; Y

Be it known that I, EMANUEL C. GIPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding numerals of reference in the different figures indicate like parts.

My invention relates to that type of store service apparatus in which a car is adapted to be projected upon an elevated way as a result of separating or spreading the tracks wires behind it and my object is to accomplish this result in a simple and effective way by elevating the rear end of the uppermost wire.

To this and other subsidiary ends my invention consists in the improved means by which said wire may be raised to a predetermined height and its return to a normal position assured upon the release ofthe actuating means, all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and delinitely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a propelling mechanism embodying the features of my invention, said view showing portions of the track wires and a portion of a car mounted thereon in the position in which it would appear at the sending station before actuating the propelling mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken upon the line 2, Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown. Fig. 3 is a sectional view in plan taken upon the line 3, Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a plan view taken upon the line 4, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the usual vertical hanger which may be rigidly attached to a ceiling. An elongated, horizontally arranged fitting 2, formed from cast metal is attached to the lower end of said hanger and is rigidly secured in place by means of a screw cap 3, which serves as an attachment for the ordinary anchor wires 4. A cast metal supporting member 5, is adjustably secured to the hanger 1, by means of a set-screw 6. Said supporting member is extended forwardly in the same vertical plane and substantially parallel with the litting or member 2. A flat faced bar 7 has its lower end connected by means of a pin 8, Figs. 1 and 4, with the forward end of the member' 2, which bar is held centrally between the side walls of said member by means of spacing elements 9, 9, Fig. 4. The upper end of the bar 7, is passed through a slot in the forward end of the part 5, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, said slot being so located as to bring the upper end of said bar nearer to the hanger 1, than the lower end, or in other words, the bar is caused to stand at an angle to the plane of the vertical with its lower end extended forward, for the purpose hereinafter stated.

Jointedly attached at 10, Figs. 1 and 4, to a central lug 11, which is integral with the part 2, is a clevis 12, to which is secured a wire 13, the forward end of which is anchored in any well knownway at a receiving station not shown. A trolley generally designated by 14, is provided with wheels 15, 15, one above the other, which are arranged to bear against the rear of the track-bar 7. Formed upon the forward end of the frame of the trolley 14, is a forwardly extended lug 16, which is loosely projected between lugs 17, 17, upon a cross-head 18, better shown in Fig. 3, and jointedly connected with said lugs by means of a pin 19, indicated in dotted lines. The cross-head 18, is provided with parallel bores through which rods 20, 20, are loosely projected, said rods having their forward ends rigidly attached to a counterpart cross-head 21, to the forward end of'which is anchored a carrier wire 22, above the wire 13 and forming a counterpart thereto, being anchored in any well known way at the opposite end of the line. The wires 22 and 13, are interposed in the usual manner between the upper and lower wheels 23, and 24, respectively, of a car 25, adapted to be supported thereby.

, Interposed between the ci'osshead 18 and washers 26, 26, which latter are held in place by means of pins 27, 27, are tension springs 28, 28, for the purpose of holding the wire 22 taut at all times while providing for a yielding action to conform to the movement of theup and down trolley to which the carrier wire is anchored.

The frame of the trolley, 14, is provided with a rear integral, U-shaped extension 29, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, into which is journaled a grooved pulley 30, arranged in a plane at right angles to that of the trolley frame.

Supported in a transverse bore in the part 5, and-held in place by means of a set-screw 31, is a Vhoriontal rod 32, which serves as a support for a pulley-block 33,V in which is housed a pulley 34. Upon the outer end of said rod is secured a similar pulley-block 35, having a pulley 3G, therein. Formed upon the pulley-block 33, is a laterally extended lug 37, Fig. 2, to which is secured the end of a cord 38. Said cord is carried downwardly beneath the pulley 30, and thence upwardly over the pulleys 34 and 36; the free end hanging downwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, in position to be grasped by the operator.

Pivoted upon a horizontal axis at 39, upon the forward end of the part 2, is a yoke 40, which serves as a support for parallel rods 41, which are loosely passed through bores therein. rlhe forward ends of lsaid rods are rigidly attached to a cross-head 42, having forwardly extended arms 43, 43, thereon to which are pivoted upon vertical axes 44, 44, outwardly flaringrcatches 45, 45, the rear ends of which are pressed toward each other by means of coiled springs 46, 46 in position to engage a spear-shaped head 47, which is extended rearwardly from the car. Buifer springs 48, 48, and 49, 49, respectively, are

'mounted upon the rods 41, in a well known way.

Extending rearwardly from the lower part of the trolley frame 14, is an arm 50,

Y Fig. 1, having a downwardly and forwardly extended hook 51, which, when in the position shown in said figure, is adapted, to engage the end of a rearwardly extendedarm 52, also shown in Fig. 4, which is rigidly attached to or formed upon the pivoted yoke 40. The purpose of the arm 50, Vis to hold the buffer catch in position to receive and hold the car at the sending station and to release said catch as an initial step in the action of the propelling mechanism.

The operation is as follows: Assuming the car to be at the sending station as shown in Fig. 1, with the operating trolley in its lower-most or normal position, and it becomes desirable to forward the car to the receiving station, the'operator grasps the propellingV cord 38, and pulls downwardly thereon, thereby causing the trolley14, to ascend, vthe bar 7 acting as a track or guide. In its initial movement the hook 51, upon thearm 50, being in engagement with the end lof the arm 52, causes the latter to be lifted whileV the forward end ofthe buffer mechanism, carrying the catches 45, is lowered, thereby releasing the car and leaving it free to be forwarded.` The continued lifting of the vtrolley serves in turn to raise the rear end of the track wire 22, thereby spreading the wires and forwarding kthe car. It is obvious however that in view ofthe upward'and rearward inclination of the bar 7 the trolley could not be raised were it not for the yielding of the tension springs 28, inasmuch as the path described by the part 21, or the rear end of the wire would be substantially in the arc of a circle, the center of which would be the point of anchorage of the forward end of the wire. Tere this path to be chosen, however, and the bar 7 curved accordingly, the tendency would be for the trolley, assuming the wire to be under proper tension, to remain at the upper end of the bar, owing to the resultant friction of the parts, and special means would be required to return it to its normal position. By placing the bar in the inclined postion shown, this tendency is completely overcome and the gravity of the trolley insures its quick and certain return as soon as the propelling cord is released. This action also serves to restore the buffer catch to an engaging position ready to receive and hold the car when it is returned to the sending station. It is obvious that the buffer catch is adapted to fall by gravity alone to a nonengaging position and hence the hook 51, is only necessary to insure such action in case of friction.

The upward extension and rearward inclination of the trolley track member or bar 7, is shown as what I regard and recommend as the best construction; but I do not wish to be limited to an inclined bar or, if inclined, to any degree of inclination provided the relation of the bar to the trolley and track wire and the take-up or tension springs is such as to insure the return of the trolley to a normal position when the actuating cord is released.

One advantage of moving a given wire while the other remains stationary is that the latter may be held under high tension, therefore enabling the diverging angle of the latter when actuated to be very abrupt, behind the wheel upon which it acts, which would result in easy and forcible propulsion.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a store service apparatus, the combination with a car having opposed guide surfaces, of Wires stretched between said surfaces, a track member, a trolley arranged to travel thereon, means for connecting said trolley with one of said wires, operating means in operative connection with said trolley, a buEer-catch for normally engaging and holding said car, the trolley being engaged withsaid catch to release the same when the trolley is moved outward on said track.

2. In a store service apparatus, the combination with al car having opposed guide surfaces, of wires stretched between said surfaces, a pivoted catch tending to swing free from the car, a detent for holding the same in the path thereof and means to spread said wires operating also to release said detent.

8. In a store service apparatus, the combination with a car having opposed guide surfaces, of wires stretched between said surfaces, a. pivoted catch tending to swing free from the car, an upwardly extending track, a trolley adapted to travel on said track one of the said wires being attached to said trolley, the descent of said trolley acting to move said catch into the path oit' said car.

4. A store service propulsion device of the spread wire type comprising, in combination, a car having opposed guide surfaces, wires stretched between said surfaces, a track, a trolley adapted to travel on said track, one of the wires being connected to said trolley by means of a yoke secured to the same by a spring at either side of the track.

5. A store service propulsion device of the spread wire type comprising, in combination, a car having opposed guide surfaces, wires stretched between said surfaces, a track, a trolley adapted to travel onsaid track, a yoke carried by one of the wires having legs passing through perforations in said trolley and working against springs.

6. In a store service apparatus, the combination with a car having upper and lower opposing wheels, of upper and lower wires stretched between said wheels, means for supporting the lowermost wire to resist the opposing action of the other, an upwardly inclined track member, a trolley arranged to travel thereon, resilient means for connecting said trolley with said uppermost wire, elevating means in operative connection with said trolley, a buffer-catch for normally engaging and holding said car, engaging means connected with said buffer catch for engaging said trolley and means upon said trolley for contacting with said engaging means to release said catch when the trolley is elevated and to restore the same to a normal position when the trolley is lowered.

7. A store service propulsion device of the spread-wire type; comprising in combination a car having upper and lower opposing wheels, wires stretched between said wheels, the lowermost wire being anchored to oppose the diverging action of the other, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined track, a trolley adapted to travel up and down thereon, means for connecting said trolley with said uppermost wire, an interposed spring for holding the wire under constant yielding tension, cord and pulley propulsion means for elevating said trolley and permitting its descent by gravity, a gravity controlled buffer catch for engaging said car when in a normal position and means thereon for engaging said trolley when the latter is lowered to normally hold said catch in engaging relation to said car.

8. A store service propulsion device comprising in combination a car having upper and lower opposing wheels, wires stretched between said wheels, the lowermost wire being anchored to oppose the diverging action of the other, an upwardly and rearwardly inclined track member, means for rigidly supporting the same, a trolley adapted to travel thereon, resilient means for connecting said trolley with said uppermost wire to hold the latter under constant tension, manually controlled means for elevating said trolley and allowing it to descend by gravity; a buffer catch pivoted upon a horizontal axis and means whereby said'trolley when in its lowered position may engage said buffer catch and hold it in position to engage the car.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 29th day of September 1914.

EMANUEL C. GIPE.

Witnesses:

DAVID H. FLETCHER, LESLIE W. FRICKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

